Every now and then, a mix comes through in our inboxes that’s as likely to please our 75-year-old, Kenyan-born aunt of Indian origin as it is our 23-year-old French intern. A mix that just manages to set every one on the same path, one on which everyone in the office agrees. And boogies. And so it is with the 31st instalment in our series of exclusive mixes, brought to you by veteran digger DJ soFa. A globe-trotting record collector constantly on the lookout for those hard-to-find gems, the mix as he says so himself is an extension of his passion: “I collect a lot of world music and all these influences shine out here in a more club-oriented setting.” There’s funk, there’s grooves, there’s dance, there’s disco and, well, there’s a little something something for just about everyone. But no playlist though, that’d be making things too easy.

Can you describe yourself and your sound in a few words?

I don’t make my own music. My passion is to research and collect everything which somehow sounds fresh to my ears. Mostly on vinyl, but also tapes, files, and whatsoever format. There is no border in time, genre or place. My influences are everything that surrounds me, people, places, nature, different cultures and a deep interest in present and past of music making history.

How did you first start playing music? How does it fit into your life?

When I was 14 a friend had some turntables. The records and the fascination of becoming a dj got me into collecting techno and electro records. The interest towards “new” music got bigger and bigger and since then almost every genre of music found its way into my collection.

Is music a full-time thing for you at the moment? If not, what are your other occupations?

Yes, listening to music and searching for records definitely outnumbers the hours of sleep I get and has been my principle occupation in life since many years. Besides Djing I work as music and cinema programmer for a Belgian art festival. I used to run a DIY label and am currently preparing to launch another small imprint for 7inch records. Occasionally I also write reviews and articles for a great magazine called The Attic.

Can you describe the mix in a few words?

I’d say deviant disco. The first idea was to do a more homogenic disco mix, but then it kind of ended up being a world-music infected collage of tracks from very different backgrounds. I collect a lot of world music and all these influences shine out here in a more club-oriented setting. As most of the mixes which can be found on my blog, it is not the most dancy one because it’s intended to be listened to at home.

Can you tell us about the exclusive track on the mix? Why did you chose to include this one? If it isn’t one of your own productions, how did you come across the artist?

Its a recent edit by the great Brussels based Duo Different Fountains, at around min. 30 of the mix. Michael gave me the track a few weeks back and it made wanna record a new mix. It’s a killer disco edit, I have no clue what the original track is. I have known Different Fountains since their first EP was released. Since then they have released some very cool EP’s and an album on Meakusma Records.

When and where did you record it?

This Tuesday evening right after coming home from work in my messy and freezing apartment. 16 degrees room temperature but dancing and playing records keeps one warm ;).

What’s your favourite track on the mix?

Maybe the second Algerian one. It’s old, so unique and beautiful. Recorded in 1986 by the legendary El Abranis from Algeria who used to produce a lot of psychedelic “Kabyle” Rock since the 70ties.

What are your top 3 albums of the year so far and why?

VA – Science Fiction Park Bundesrepublik: German Home Recording Tape Music Of The 1980s

Francis Bebey ‎– Psychedelic Sanza 1982 – 1984

Ami Shavit – In Alpha Mood (upcoming on Finders Keepers)

What do you have coming up in the next few weeks?

I’m very excited that an old cosmic synth record which I have found in Israel will be reissued on the brilliant Finders Keepers Records very soon. It will be followed by 2 other releases which the world has never heard before. With the help of a friend I found the 80 year old musician who recorded this music in the early 70ties. After spending unforgettable moments with him talking about the early years of electronic music production he gave us his original master tapes who will now be made available worldwide. It feels very exciting to be initiator of this kind of process. There is so much incredible good old music which remains almost unheard. Watch out for “Ami Shavit”, soon on Finders Keepers!.

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The Word Magazine is Belgium’s leading English-speaking free media platform, documenting and championing the best in neighbourhood living, music and art. Published every two months, the magazine is distributed in over 500 distribution points across the country.